Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-11-13
aHbrelin9 Re9ister
COUNTESS NARONA.
BY wILKIE COLLINS.
al SECOND PART.
CONTINUED
CHAPTER NJ.
Lady Montbarry, miss

Agnes was writing a letter, when the
servant astonished Ter by announcing the
visitors name. Her first impulse was to
rsfuse to see the woman who had intruded
IN her. But Lady MOntbarry had taken
care to follow close on the servants heels.
Before Agnes could speak she had entered
the room.
Il beg to apologize for my intrusion,
Miss Lockwood. have q question to ask
YOU. in which | am very much interested.
No n can answer me but yourself" In
low, hesitatiDg tones, with her glittering
black ewes bent mOdestly on the ground,
Lady M~ontbarry opened the interview in
those words.
Without answering Agnes pointed to a
chair. She could do this, and, for the
time. she could DO no more. All that she
had rr,d Of the hidden and sinister life in
the palace at Venice; all that she had heard
OF Montharry's melancholy death and
burial in a foreign land; all that she knew
Of the mystery Of Ferrari's disappearance,
rushed into her mind when the black rObed
figure confronted her, standing Just inside
the door. The strange conduct of Lady
Nontblrry added a new ~perpleNity to the
doubts and misgiyingS that troubled her.
There stood the adventures whose character
had lett It's marx on society all over Europe
the Fury who had terrified Mrs. Ferrari
AT the hOtel-juCOnceiyably transformed
into a tImId. shrinking woman, Lady
Montharry had not Ouce yentured to look
az Agnes since she had made her way into
the room. Advancing to take the chair
that had teen pointed ont TO her, she hest
tated, put her hand on the rail to support
herself, aud still remained standing.
please give ne q moment 10 compose my
self she said, family. Her head sunk
on her bosom; she stood before Agnes like
conscious Culprit before a mercileSS Judge.
The slleAce that followed was, literally,
the silence Of lear on both sides. In the
midst OF il the door VAS opened once more,
and Henry WeSTwick appeared.
lie looked ut Lady Montbarry with O
moments steady attention, bowed TO hel
with formal pOliteuess aud passed on in
silence. At the sight of her husbands
brother the sinking spirit of the woman
apraug TO lite again. Her dropping figure
bCrJme erect. Her eyes met Westwick'S
,2ra. brightly defiant. She returned hi.
0aH sikh a. icg smile Of contempt.
iIvury crossed the room to Agnes.
Is L.dy MontAarry here by your invita-
t'cls ne asked puietly.
No"
DO Won wish 10 see herr"
1t u very painful to me to ace her"
lie turned and looked at his slSter-iu.
law.
DO you hear tlar?" he asked, coldly.
Il hear II, 80 she answered, mCse coldly
still.
"Your yisi. -, to say the least of it, il
timed"
Your interference is, to say the least o.
it, ont u place
With that retort, LAZY MOatharry ap
preached Agues. The presence Of Henry
WestwicE seemed az OaCe 70 relieve GnC
embolden her. Permit me TO ask my
question, Miss Lockwood, " she said, Will
graCetuIl rpUrte.v. 1T Is nothing to EN-
barraSS you. When the Courier Ferrar
applied - my late husband for employ
meHt, did you her resolution failed
her before she could say more. She sunl
trembling luto the nearest chair, aud, ate
a moments struggle, composed hersel
again. Did you permit Ferrari, " she re
sumed, ''to make sure OF being chosen fo
our courier b. using your name?'
Agnes did rot reply with her CUSTOMARY
directnesS. Tntlsng AZ II waJ, the references
man, Of all Others, confused aud agitatel
her.
Il have known Ferrari'S wife for man,
years she began. And l take an in
teIeSt'-
Lady Montbarry abruptly lifted he
hands with a gesture OF eRtreaty. "Ah
Miss Lockwood, don't waste time by talk
ing OF his wife! Answer my plain question
plainly"
Let me answer her" Henry whispered
Il will undertake to speak plainly enough
Agnes refused by q gesture. Lady Mont
haTry's interruption had reused her sens
OF what was due to herself. She Tesumet
her reply IN palmer terms.
When Ferrari wrote to the late LORI
Mnntbarry. ~ she said, ''he did c~ertainl,
mention my name"
Even now, she had innoeently failed Il
see the object which her visitor had il
view. Lady NontbIrry's impotence be
cane upgOvernable. Size started to he
tces and advanced to Agnes.
Was It With your knowledge and per
mission that FeTrsri used your name?'
she asked. The whole soul of my uues
ton Is ip that. For Gods sake, answe
me-IcS or No."
Yes"
That one word struck Lady Moutbarr,
As 4 blow might ave struck her. Tn
fierce lite that had animated her face tn
instant before faded out Of it suddenly an
left her like a wOmau turned to stone
She stood, mechanically confronting Agne
with a stiffness 80 rapt and perfect that no
even the breath she drew WAS perceptibl
to the two persons who were looking at her
Henry spoke 10 her roughly. "Rous
yourself he SAID. You have receive,
your answer.
She looked ut him. 81 have receive
my sentence, - she IsjoiEed, and turne
slowly to leave the loom.
TO Henry astoniShuent, Agnes stoppe
her. Wait a moment, Lady Montbarry
/ have soHtthing to ask On my side"
Lady NonIhsrry paused on the instau
silently submissive IS if she had heard
word Of command. HeGTy drew Ague
away TO the other eud o. he room and re
mOnstrated with her.
You do wrong to call that perso
back, ~ ne said.
NO" Agnes whispered, II have har
time 10 remember"
TO remember wLar?'
To remember Ferrari'S wife: Lad,
MontbarrT may have heard something O
the lost man.
Lady Moatharry may have heard, bu
she won't tel"
1T may b. so, Henry, but for Emily,
sake l must try" Henry Welded.
Year kindness Is inexhaustible," b.
said, with his admiration Of her kindlini
n his eyes. Always thinking of others